Scammers Target Strongsville Residents With IRS Con

STRONGSVILLE, OH — Strongsville police and city officials are warning residents to guard themselves against con artists during tax season. This time of year, scammers pretend to be from the IRS or Social Security and try to pry valuable personal information away from residents.

According to the city, a resident was recently targeted by such a scam. Someone claiming to be from the Social Security Administration reached out and said the resident's social security number was connected to a large batch of cocaine found in Texas. Of course...none of that was true.

Common social security scams will then tell their target their social security number has been suspended. To unlock the number, targets will need to pay the administration (usually using gift cards or wire transfers).

Fake IRS agents work the same way. They call a target and tell them they owe money on their taxes. To get a refund, or to avoid jail time, the target will need to pay the "IRS" using gift cards or wire transfers, and also provide the agents with a Social Security number or bank account.

"The best way to deal with a call from Social Security or the IRS? Hang up. It’s rare that either agency would call you, and they will NEVER ask for payment over the phone," city officials said in a statement on the Strongsville municipal website.

Neither agency would ever threaten an American or demand immediate payment. If a caller does either of those things, residents should hang up immediately.

"If you get a call like that, just hang up. If either agency has legitimate business to conduct, they’ll send you a letter," city officials said.